6th Week after Holy Cross

TUESDAY
1 Corinthians 6:12-20
“Everything is lawful for me,” but not everything is beneficial. “Everything is lawful for me,” but I will not let myself be dominated by anything. “Food for the stomach and the stomach for food,” but God will do away with both the one and the other. The body, however, is not for immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord is for the body; God raised the Lord and will also raise us by his power. Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take Christ’s members and make them the members of a prostitute? Of course not! (Or) do you not know that anyone who joins himself to a prostitute becomes one body with her? For “the two,” it says, “will become one flesh.” But whoever is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him. Avoid immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the immoral person sins against his own body. Do you not know that your body is a temple of the holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been purchased at a price. Therefore, glorify God in your body.

Matthew 13:10-17 The Purpose of Parables

Then the disciples came and asked Jesus, “Why do you speak to them in
parables?” He answered, “To you it has been given to know the secrets
of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. For to
those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance;
but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken
away. The reason I speak to them in parables is that ‘seeing they do
not perceive, and hearing they do not listen, nor do they understand.’
With them indeed is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah that says: ‘You
will indeed listen, but never understand, and you will indeed look, but
never perceive. For this people’s heart has grown dull, and their ears
are hard of hearing, and they have shut their eyes; so that they might
not look with their eyes, and listen with their ears, and understand with
their heart and turn — and I would heal them.’ But blessed are your
eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. Truly I tell you, many
prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, but did not
see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it.”
This is the truth. Peace be with you.

We have been purchased with a price. This price is the passion and death of Jesus. We are valuable and valued and we should treat ourselves well by keeping our souls and bodies free from sin. We know the secret of this good news, and it has not been hidden from us. Therefore let us see with our eyes of faith that Jesus is Lord.

The Light of the just and joy of the upright is Christ Jesus our Lord.
Begotten of the Father, he manifested himself to us.
He came to rescue us from darkness and to fill us with the radiance of his light.

Day is dawning upon us; the power of darkness is fading away, From the true Light there arises for us the Light which illumines our darkened eyes.

His glory shines upon the world and enlightens the very depths of the abyss.
Death is annihilated, night has vanished, and the gates of Sheol are broken.
Creatures lying in darkness from ancient times are clothed in light.
The dead arise from the dust and sing because they have a Savior.

He brings salvation and grants us life.
He ascends to his Father on high.
He will return in glorious splendor and shed his light on those gazing upon him.

Our King comes in majestic glory.
Let us light our lamps and go forth to meet him.
Let us find our joy in him, for he has found joy in us.
He will indeed rejoice us with his marvelous light.

Let us glorify the majesty of the Son and give thanks to
the almighty Father, who,
in an outpouring of love, sent him to us, to fill us with hope and salvation.

When he manifests himself, the saints awaiting him in
weariness and sorrow,
will go forth to meet him with lighted lamps.

The angles and guardians of heaven will rejoice in the glory of the just and upright people of earth;
together, crowned with victory, they will sing hymns and psalms.

Stand up then and be ready!
Give thanks to our King and Savior, who will come in great glory to gladden us with his marvelous light in his kingdom.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen.

Alleluia.